The Imagery of Love in the Gospel of John: Revised Thesis

Le immagini dell'amore nel vangelo di Giovanni. Dissertazione di p. Johns Varghese. La tesi, che unisce il punto di vista sincronico e diacronico, analizza tre principali campi semantici: quello della sposa-sposo, quello dell'amicizia, e quello dell'alleanza, che possono essere fatti risalire alla cultura dell'Antico Testamento e della tradizione ebraica, e a quella del mondo greco-romano. The dissertation of Fr. Johns Varghese published in revised form in this volume recommends itself for multiple reasons. There have been various monographs about aspects of the theme of love in the Gospel of John, but no exhaustive study of this theme from the synchronic and diachronic point of view. The dissertation published here combines both aspects and arrives at new conclusions. In choosing the term imagery, our author uses a concept becoming more important in recent times. The term allows the interpreter to start from the existing text instead of asking immediately for its literary roots. [a] Three main semantic fields emerge - bride-bridegroom, friendship, covenant - which can be attributed to two cultural backgrounds - Old Testament and Jewish tradition, Greco-Roman world. [a] The courage of our author to ask hermeneutic questions at the end of his investigations merits praise. (Johannes Beutler, S.J.) The plurality of methods employed adds value to this thesis. The approach is mainly synchronic but the author has taken care to include historical analysis when it could shed light on his interpretation. Hermeneutical analysis is present; personal concern on the religious situation in India and the role of the Christian community in this milieu. All of this flows easily from the accurate exegetical work performed. (Javier Lopez, S.J.)